Magnetic separator



March 5, 1957 A, 5 HARLAN 2,783,890

MAGNETIC SEPARATOR Filed NOV. 9, 1953 INVENTOR. //mr J, #fwn/7N MAGNETIC SEPARATOR Avery S. Harlan, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Industrial Filtration Company, Lebanon, Ind., a copartnerslnp Application November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,928 3 Claims. (Cl. 2101.5)

This invention relatesg'enerally to separators, and more particularly to magnetic separating devices adapted to remove metallic particles from fluids, such as liquid coolants or lubricants utilized for metal working operations.

In order to perform high speed metal working operations, liquid coolants` or lubricants are flowed over the work piece in the area being cut by a metal working tool. The flow of fluid is of such volume that it carries away in suspension a substantial quantity of metallic particles or chips. The quantity is worth reclaiming, and removal of the metallic particles makes it possible to re-use the liquid coolant or lubricant.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a magnetic separating device for continuously receiving metal bearing liquid coolants or lubricants and continuously removing the metallic particles or chips therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a magnetic separating device wherein the metal bearing fluids flow through the magnetic fields of a plurality. of magnets, thereby to provide eicient removal of metallic particles or chips from the ui A further Object of the invention is to provide a magnetic separator for separating metallic particles or chips from liquid coolants or lubricants wherein separated metallic material is prevented from becoming re-mxed with the fluid after it is once separated.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a magnetic separator for separating fluid borne metal particles or chips which comprises a deep settling tank for receiving metal bearing fluids and formed at one side to provide fa fluid receiving opening, while the other side is formed to provide a metal discharge opening, a plurality of magnets for creating a magnetic field adjacent to the bottom of the tank whereby the force of gravity in conjunction with the magnetic field causes separation of metallic particles or chips fand accumulation thereof on the bottom of said tank, and a scraping mechanism adapted to remove separated metallic particles from the bottom of said tank into the metallic particle discharge opening of said tank.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section separator.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken online 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 1 illustrates a preferred form of this invention wherein there is provided a tank 40 having a false bottom 41. Magnets 42 may be mounted on tank 40 to provide a magnetic field along the entire length of the false bottom 41 and extending to a substantial degree above the level of false bottom 41.

Tank 40 includes at the upper edge of its wall a trough 44 into which metal particle bearing fluid may ow, and preferably trough 44 is so arranged that the fluid flows uniformly over edge 45 along its entire length into the tank. On the opposite side of the tank there of the magnetic .United States Patent 4O and through the 2,783,890 Patented Mar. 5,1957

, 2 is provided a second trough 46 which is adapted to re ceive liuid flowing from the tank over the edge 47. Trough j 44 may be connected to an inlet pipe, while trough 46-may be connected to any suitable outlet pipe.

Along the center of the tank and extending longitudnally thereof there is provided a battle 48 extending from a point above the uid level within the tank to a point closely adjacent to the bottom 41 of the tank, whereby agreat percentage of the fluid flowing out of trough 44Amust pass downwardly under kbaille 48 into strongest part of the magnetic field created by magnets 42. In this manner bale 48 positively assures that all of the fluid will pass through the strongest portion of the magnetic field.

For scraping the bottom 41 to remove separated metalp lic particles, there is provided an endless chain 50 running over the sprockets 51.Y Sprockets 51 may be mounted on shafts 52, 53, 54 and 55. Shafts 52 and 54 may be supported in bearings 56 mounted on opposite sides of the tank, while shafts 53 and 55 may be supported on bearings 57 mounted on extensions of the troughs 44 and 46. In this manner the chains y50 follow a path which is 'above and below the plane of the upper and lower edges of baie 48. Chains 50 support scrapers 32. The rubber-like scraper assemblies 32 are formed with staggered recesses 38, thereby to p rovide staggered scraping members 39. The recesses 38 permit flow of fluid through the scraper While the staggered scraper fingers 39 cover the entire surface of false bottom 41 to scrape and remove metal particles and chips from false bottom 41.

The tank is provided at its right hand end, for ex- |ample, with a lip 58 whereby the Scrapers 32 may move the metal particles from the bottom of the tank up the inclined portion 59 and out of the uid into a suitable container 60.

From the foregoing description of the magnetic separator, it will be appa-rent that metallic particles may be removed from the uid not only by means of t-he magnetic fields, but -also as a result of the effects of gravity. Thus, the magnetic fields .and gravitational force combine to pull |all of the metallic particles or a substantial percentage thereof downwardly onto the bottom of the tank, whereby they may be removed by the scraping action of the scrapers 32. This is in contrast to prior art magnetic separating devices wherein the magnetic field is active to pull metallic particles upwardly out of the fiuid, making no provisions for removing metallic particles which may have settled downwardly in the fluid under the infiuence of gravity.

While the invention has been described as utilizing a scraping mechanism consisting of a chain, it will be appar# ent that the Scrapers may also be mounted on rotating wheels or on cam actuated mechanisms, the motion of which will be effective to move the Scrapers along the botconcept of this invention so long as it is adapted to scrape the bottom of the tankand move the particles over the discharge end of the tank.

The invention claimed is:

1. A magnetic separator for removing 'metal particles or chips from a liquid coolant or lubricant comprising a flat-bottomed tank for receiving particle or chip bearing fluid, a plurality of magnets distributed along the at bottorn of said tank to create a plurality of magnetic fields along the length of said bottom for separating metallic particles or chips from said fluid and depositing them on said bottom, and an endless chain mechanism rotatably supported within said tank and including spaced Scrapers movable into scraping contact with the flat bottom of said moving them to the particle discharge end of'said tank,

the successive scrapers having staggered recessed portions g1 the Ascraping edges, thereofV for permitting `passage, of

uid.A IZQAmagnetic separator for removing metal particles or chips from a liquid coolant or lubricant comprising a horizontal rectangular open-topped tank, a pid receiving trough mounted along one upper side edge ofY said tank for receiving particle or chip` bearing lluid and discharging it over said side edge into said tank, a` second trough mounted along the upper side edge of the opposite'side of said tank for receiving fluid flowing over said side and discharging it, an opstanding rectangular battle plate disposed centrally in saidtank in parallel relationship to said troughs and extending from a point abovethe level of the iluid in the'tank to `a point in close proximity to the bottom of said tank to define a long narrow window longitudinally of the tank for causing the fluid flowing from the inlet trough to the discharge trough to pass in close proximity yto the'bottom of said tank, said tank including at one end thereof between said troughs anl upwardly sloping end surface having a particle or chip discharging lip, a plurality of magnets distributed along the bottom of said tank to create a plurality of magnetic fields along the length of said bottom and extending upwardly above the bottom i s edge of said bafe for separating metallic paiticles or chips from said fluid and depositing them on said bottom', and an 'endless vchain mechanism rotatably supported within said tank and including spaced Scrapers extending across the bottom of the tank and movable lengthwise of said window in scraping contact with the bottom of said tank for scraping metallic particles from said bottom and moving them to the particle discharge end of said tank.

3. A magnetic separator for metal particle bearing liquids, a dat-bottomed tank having a oor internally thereof, means for magnetizing the door of the tank, a conveyor with parallel spaced scraper blades and means for carrying the blades acrossthe tloor for bunching and removing magnetizable particles attracted to the floor, the scraping edges of said blades having spaced recesses, the recesses of successive blades being staggered.

References Cited inthe flle of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS 

